Eat Out to Help Out was ‘poor use of taxpayer money’

The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been criticised for helping to “accelerate” the second wave.

Chancellor Rishis Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme was launched on 3 August, which offered half price mid-week meals.

Dr Thiemo Fetzer wrote a research paper and has suggested that the scheme caused a “significant” rise in infections.

A Treasury spokesperson said in response to the paper, “We do not recognise these figures – which as the study itself admits, are ‘back-of-the-envelope’ calculations.

“Many other European counterparts have experienced an uptick in cases, irrespective of whether similar measures for the hospitality industry have been introduced.

“We’re continuing to work closely with businesses to help them be COVID-secure.”

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme on Sunday 4 October that the scheme could have helped to fuel the rise in cases.